We talk so much about individuality, about the fact that in our time it's important to be yourself.
However, we do not ask ourselves what exactly determines that very individuality?
Due to what our inner self is being formed? And what finally determines our character, habits, mood, fate? Temperament. About him will be discussed further.
Concept
The word "temperament" originated from the Latin "temperamentum", which means "ratio of parts".
Temperament - is a system of individual characteristics of our psyche, identifying behavior and internal state.
He is laid in us from the moment of his conception. This is something that is almost impossible to change, although it is not inherited and is not a set of genetic factors.
it formed installationswhich are firmly rooted in the mind, and now with their help, the person will become an individual.
It is still difficult to say what influences its formation. Heredity in this regard does not play any role: often in a pair with similar temperaments a child is born with different attitudes of behavior.
Temperament inextricably linked to the nervous system (NA). The way a person reacts to the environment, how calm he is or, on the contrary, is impulsive, what emotions he has - this is all his manifestation. But all that is described is its psychological basis. And there is also a physiological one.
The basics
Physiological
Physiological basis: what is it and who studied it? The physiological basis of temperament was devoted to research by a Russian scientist, a Nobel laureate. Ivan Pavlov.
In his work, he explains how much NA is different for all people. The differences are due to the processes of excitation and inhibition, the researcher believes.
They have three properties:
- force;
- equilibrium;
- mobility.
Strength - this is the performance of nerve cells, that is, the expression of how strong they are to endure the processes of excitation and inhibition.
Equilibrium - this is the ability of nerve cells to keep proportions.
Mobility - This is a key factor. As far as the nerve cells are motile, they will be replaced faster, which means that the NA will work better and more efficiently.
The combination of all these processes is defined as the highest nervous system (ANS).
Scientists consider its four types:
- Weak type - highly sensitive individuals, with weak processes of arousal and inhibition.
- Strong unbalanced - individuals with strong NS, the excitation processes dominate the processes of inhibition.
- Strong balanced moving - individuals with strong processes, but nervous connections are extremely unstable.
- Strong balanced inert - people of this type are constantly calm; neural processes inactive.
Temperament - this is the manifestation of a certain type of ANS, says Ivan Pavlov. But unlike the first, it does not determine human behavior, but only expresses the mobility and stability of nervous processes.
Natural
What is the natural basis? The natural basis of temperament is made up of 3 components.:
- Mental activity - component, expressed in the desire of the person to act, move, achieve something, be the first and so on.
- Motor (motor) activity - the speed of muscle movements, their strength.
- Emotional activity - impulsivity, susceptibility to emotions.
If you believe the conclusions of German psychologists Krechmera and Zigo, the natural basis is expressed by the structure of the organism and the state of its human organs. From here they advanced their constitutional theories.
Material
As is known, the material basis of the human psyche is its brain. Since temperament is an expression of the characteristics of the psyche, it can be said that its material basis is also a brain.
It would be more accurate to say, the whole NA, where, as is known, not only the brain (brain and spinal cord), but also the nerves enter.
However, in general, the decisive role in the implementation of mental activity is played by the brain, which is the center of NA.
Mental activity is impossible without the functioning of the three blocks of the brain.:
- Block activation and tonus.
- The unit of reception, processing, accumulation of information.
- Control unit.
At the same time, the whole brain performs mental activity; specific hemispheres are only responsible for a certain mental function.
Types
There are 4 types of temperament, which the doctor who still lived in ancient Greece highlighted Hippocrates. In more detail about his theory - further, for now we will briefly name the species identified by him (depending on the dominance in people of one of the four "vital juices"):
- sanguine person;
- choleric;
- melancholic;
- phlegmatic person.
- Sanguine men - mobile, cheerful, confident people. Always smooth the conflict, joke, laugh, love to communicate and make friends.
- Choleric - people are extremely impulsive and even aggressive. The most straightforward view. However, love of life and humor is also present in choleric persons.
- Melancholic - sad, depressed, terribly unsure people. Everything in the world is afraid.
- Phlegmatic - people about whom they say "on their minds." They love loneliness, slow, overly calm, socially isolated people.
Each species will have both positive and negative sides.
There are people with a mixed temperament: a choleric with sanguine or melancholic elements with choleric elements - this happens quite often. It is rare to find a pure phlegmatic or sanguine person.
Theories
Psychology, as a science, began to be studied in ancient times.
And the first who created the theory of temperament, was mentioned by us Hippocrates.
According to Hippocrates, temperament is the behavior of an individual, in which one of the four elements of the system, the so-called “vital juices”, leads:
- yellow bile - “poison”, with the help of which the individual becomes an impulsive choleric;
- lymph (colorless blood fluid) gives us the qualities of a calm phlegmatic;
- blood - "life juice", prevailing in cheerful sanguine persons;
- black bile - sad melancholic.
Further, many researchers began to study them.
Psychotherapist Krachmer drew a parallel between physique and mental illness, which can later develop.
So, depending on the structure of the body, the researcher identified three temperaments:
- ixotymic;
- cyclomatic;
- schizotymic
William Sheldon adhered to the same concept as Krechmer. He believed that temperament determines the structure of the body. In this regard, the scientist identified three types:
- viscerotonic;
- somatotonic;
- cerebrotonic.
Dutch explorers Gerardus Heymans and Edward Wirsme identified temperament as psyche properties that help a person in contact with environmental conditions. Scientists have identified 8 species.
Jan Strelau supported in his research Heymans and Warce. He also considered: temperament is directly dependent on external conditions of existence. However, if people are in the same conditions, then their temperaments will differ.
British psychologist Hans Jürgen Eysenck I came to the conclusion that the indicators of temperament are extraversion (converting views to the outside world), introversion (turning views inward) and neuroticism.
Karl jung adheres to the position Aysenka, believing that these three factors can determine a person’s temperament.
One of the most common in psychotherapy is the theory of Ivan Pavlov. The type of temperament he associated with the NA and revealed what features identify it.
The researcher identified 4 types of NA:
- The first - possessing a force, active, balanced people.
- Second - people with power, but unbalanced.
- Third - strong, balanced, quiet people.
- Fourth - weak, too quiet, inactive.
Described species Pavlov compared with temperaments Hippocrates.
Thus, the first type in the theory described by the scientist is sanguine, the second is choleric, the third is phlegmatic and the last, the fourth is melancholic.
Psychologist Hunt I combined four temperaments into two groups: sanguine and melancholic in one, choleric and phlegmatic in the other.
Ancestor of experimental psychology Albrecht Haller correlated temperament with excitability of blood vessels. So, in sanguine and choleric - high excitability, in phlegmatic and melancholic - low.
The researcher pointed to the difference in the size of the brain in different types of temperament: the first have a large brain, and the second - small. In addition, in his opinion, with nervines with choleric persons, in his opinion, nerves of steel, and in phlegmatic persons with melancholic - very weak.
Genetic constitutional theory Conrad (the teachings of Kretschmer and Sheldon) states that temperament can be inherited by means of both dominant and recessive qualities.
There are also energy and conceptual theories.
Modern psychologists follow the discoveries of Hippocrates, highlighting four temperaments - this is the most popular theory today.
How to determine and can I change?
So, temperament is a set of mental properties that distinguish a person.
It is possible to judge a lot about it.: about the character of the face, morals and even the excitability of blood vessels.
Defining it is very simple: compare your character and behavior with all species known to you - it is likely that you will find in you the properties of all of them - this is normal. Pay attention to the dominant qualities in you, and from this draw conclusions.
In conclusion, we will give an explanation to one of the significant questions: is it possible to change the temperament and what to do if it categorically does not suit you?
To change the temperament, of course, it is impossible - it is laid in you along with all the physiological processes. But you can change your own attitude to your temperament!
If you are melancholicand you are tired of being sad and crying, look out the window and look at the world around you! How beautiful is the evening sunset, blooming apple trees, like children playing in a children's meadow.
Listen to the singing of birds, how water flows in a fountain - all these seemingly ordinary and simple things can color the lives of even the most melancholic person in the world. At heart, a priori, it will be pleasant and fun.
The thing is that moments of joy and grief not dependent on temperament. In general, it does not matter who you are - sanguine or phlegmatic, especially when you consider that you are not free to change it.
It is important to be just yourself and carry confidence. Love yourself and indulge. Love your bad temper and put up with all the flaws.
Do your favorite thing, raise children, build a career - do what you like, and everything else - conventions! On this we have everything. We hope this article will be useful for you!
Physiological basis of temperament:
